Havanese Pros and Cons; Is this the righT breed for you?

The "VelcRo Dog thing":

Yes, they are absolutely "people" dogs!  Don't get one if you want a pet that you can just "forget" for long periods of time, or who will do well in a boarding kennel.  Frankly, I don't think this is great for ANY dog, but there ARE breeds that tolerate it better than most Havanese.  While you will read about separation anxiety being common in Havanese, the VAST majority of cases of "separation anxiety" are human-made, not part of the breed.  Raise your puppy right, and it won't be a problem!

"Small, maybe fragile?":

Yes, they are small, DEFINITELY more vulnerable than a Labrador or Golden Retriever when playing with large breeds, or if you have rambunctious children in the house.  So keep those things in mind.   But (hopefully) you can teach your kids to handle the puppy gently.  They are one of the sturdiest toy breeds!  And their size has many advantages in terms of portability. Most can travel under airline seats which makes them great travel companions.  You MUST protect them from wildlife and from larger, potentially aggressive, or even overly rambunctious dogs throughout their lives And until they are fully mature you must protect them from damaging their joints by jumping from heights, etc.

"That beautiful, hard to maintain coat!":

If you are interested in maintaining that classic Havanese "look", look for a breeder who emphasizes easy-care coats in their breeding program.  Such breeders do exist, and such Havanese do exist! My dogs all have coats that have been quite easy to maintain in full coat except during that dreaded adolescent "blowing coat" phase.  MOST, but not all, Havanese are tough to groom during that period. I have had two that were quite easy even through coat blowing, but I can’t guarantee that in a puppy! But there is no shame in cutting them down then, and letting them grow back out if it gets to be too much for you!

Or... you can go in, eyes wide open, and decide that you are just not up for a lot of primping and you don't care about a long coat.  In that case, you need to arrange for a good groomer EARLY, and get your pup used to quite a short cut on a regular basis. (typically every 6-8 weeks starting by about 6 months of age)  The ONLY way you can get away with not combing at all, or not much, will be to keep them really short. Or… you can learn to clip your dog yourself. It’s not that hard, and even if you make mistakes, hair grows! You’ll have a chance to practice again before too long!

Panda, below, is retired now, and in her short puppy cut, trimmed up about every 6 weeks, only needs a quick comb-through about once a week, mostly on her legs, which we leave longer, and one or two baths between her trips to the groomer! (mostly because of all her white)

So... whether you consider this a "pro" or an "con" depends on your view of grooming!  I enjoy it, and went in, eyes wide open.  But if it's not your jam, be prepared!

"They are SMART/They’re stubborn!!!!":

Havanese love to work.  They have been used as circus dogs for many years.  If you enjoy training with your dog, you will love training with your Havanese.  If you have no training experience, depending on the situation, you may need help!  Some of these little monkeys can come up with their own agenda, and you might need help training him to see it your way!  Remember that every time you interact with your dog, you are "teaching" him something... whether it's the lesson you intended or not. Very often, I see situations where people get very frustrated because they do not realize that they are unintentionally reinforcing exactly the behaviors they don’t want.  This can be a real problem with a smart breed like Havanese!

I have seen Havanese presented as “stubborn” from time to time. Dogs are not “stubborn”. Dogs do what works! If a dog appears stubborn, they are either confused, or they are smarter than the person training them. Get (or be!) a better trainer! Havanese are soft, gentle dogs, for the most part, and respond best to force-free, positive based training methods. Stick to trainers who use these methods for best results!

The remarkable Kodi matching items presented for him!

"Havanese seem to be available everywhere on the internet" OR... "I can't find one!":

Yes and yes.  There are a lot of swindlers, scammers and puppy mills out there.  You typically can find an underbred, poorly socialized maybe-Havanese pretty quickly. And for cheap or for more than you would pay a reputable breeder. Prices vary widely.  But believe me, that's NOT what you want.  Take your time, do your homework, find the RIGHT breeder, who will be a resource to you for the rest of your dog's life.  Do not look for a bargain or a quick fix. 

If at all possible, meet the breeder and pups in person.  If that's not possible, make SURE you do a Zoom or Face Time meeting. (although it’s fine for initial contact to be email, phone call, or whatever the breeder’s typical process is) Zoom or Face Time cannot be faked the way photos can. Get references!  (not necessarily puppy owners, preferably another good breeder!) Make sure you feel comfortable with the breeder.  Ask for your contract ahead of time, if it has not been offered, and READ it!!! If there is something you don’t understand, ask about it.  Do not buy a puppy without a written contract and AKC registration! Also, it is against AKC rules to sell a puppy for less money without AKC registration, so be aware of that game too! Make sure BOTH parents have been fully health tested and that the results are registered with OFA.  I prefer that at least one parent have either conformation and/or performance titles, preferably both. (though there are reasons for a parent not to have these… ASK!!!) "Championship LINES" means NOTHING.  There isn't a Havanese in the US that doesn't have "champions in their lines"!  It's not that big a breed!